Richard Dreyfuss – Biography, Movies, Age, Net Worth & More

Richard Dreyfuss is an American actor who came to define the New Hollywood era of the 1970s. With an Academy Award for Best Actor, starring roles in two of the decade’s top-grossing films, and a career spanning more than five decades, he remains a highly recognized figure in cinema.

Dreyfuss first captured audiences with his performances in films such as American Graffiti, Jaws, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. His Oscar-winning turn in The Goodbye Girl made him, at age 29, the youngest Best Actor winner at the time.

What are the best Richard Dreyfuss movies?

• Dreyfuss is considered a pivotal figure of the New Hollywood era, known for intense, character-driven roles.
• He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Goodbye Girl (1977), becoming the youngest winner at that time.
• His career spans over five decades, with notable television and theater work in addition to film.
• Highly regarded for his collaborations with director Steven Spielberg on Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
• Later acclaimed performances include What About Bob? (1991) and Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995).

Richard Dreyfuss movies in order

Chronologically, Dreyfuss’s early appearances include an uncredited role in The Graduate (1967) and television work such as The Second Hundred Years (1967) and The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1970). His breakthrough came in 1973 with American Graffiti, followed by The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974) and then Jaws (1975). The late 1970s were defining years, with both Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Goodbye Girl released in 1977.

What was Richard Dreyfuss like as a young actor?

Britannica describes Dreyfuss as an actor known for portraying “ordinary men driven to emotional extremes.” As a young actor, he entered the industry during a period of transition. The studio system was fading, and character-driven stories were gaining ground. Dreyfuss embodied this shift, often playing intelligent, neurotic, and deeply relatable characters.

What is Richard Dreyfuss’s net worth?

The provided search results do not include a credible net worth figure for Richard Dreyfuss. No reliable financial data could be verified from the sources available. Any claims about his net worth remain unconfirmed and should be treated with caution.

Who is Richard Dreyfuss’s wife?

Dreyfuss has been married more than once. He was married to Jeramie Rain from 1983 to 1995, and they had three children together: Emily, Benjamin, and Harry. He then married Janelle Lacey in 1999, and the couple divorced in 2005.

According to IMDb’s bio page, he has been married to Svetlana Erokhin since March 16, 2006. This name appears in the biographical record, though other sources present conflicting information.

How old is Richard Dreyfuss and what is his height?

Richard Dreyfuss age

Richard Dreyfuss was born on October 29, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York. That makes him 78 years old as of 2026.

Richard Dreyfuss height

A source in the provided results states he is 5 ft 4¼ in tall and describes him as the shortest actor to win the Best Actor Oscar. However, this claim comes from a social-media post rather than a standard reference source, so it should be treated cautiously.

What was Richard Dreyfuss’s role in Jaws?

In Jaws (1975), Dreyfuss played Matt Hooper, a young, wealthy, and knowledgeable marine biologist. The character is brought in to help investigate a series of shark attacks and quickly clashes with Roy Scheider’s Chief Brody and Robert Shaw’s Quint. Hooper’s scientific expertise and his iconic line, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat,” became a staple of film history.

Multiple sources pair Jaws with Close Encounters of the Third Kind as the signature Steven Spielberg films of Dreyfuss’s breakthrough years. By the late 1970s, he had played leads in two of the decade’s top-grossing films.

What is the complete filmography of Richard Dreyfuss?

Richard Dreyfuss movies list

The best-documented films and projects associated with Dreyfuss include, in approximate order of release:

• The Graduate (1967, uncredited)
• The Second Hundred Years (1967, TV)
• The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1970, TV)
• The Young Lawyers (1971, TV)
• Gunsmoke (1973, TV)
• American Graffiti (1973)
• The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974)
• Jaws (1975)
• Inserts (1975)
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
• The Goodbye Girl (1977)
• Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)
• Stand by Me (1986, narration)
• Moon Over Parador (1988)
• Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
• James and the Giant Peach (1996)
• The Crew (2000)
• The Old Man Who Read Love Stories (2001)
• Who Is Cletis Tout?
• Poseidon (2006)
• Shots Fired (2017)
• Bayou Caviar (2018)
• Polar (2019)

What is the timeline of Richard Dreyfuss’s career milestones?

1. 1947: Born in Brooklyn, New York.
2. 1967: First film role in The Graduate (uncredited).
3. 1973: Breakthrough role in American Graffiti.
4. 1975: Stars in Jaws as Matt Hooper.
5. 1977: Stars in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and wins Oscar for The Goodbye Girl.
6. 1980s: Continued film work, including The Competition (1980) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986).
7. 1990s: Roles in What About Bob? (1991) and Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995).
8. 2000s: Television work, including The Education of Max Bickford (2001-2002).
9. 2006: Marries Svetlana Erokhin.
10. 2010s: Continues acting and voice work, including roles in The Last Sharknado (2018).
11. 2020s: Active in interviews and public appearances.

Which facts about Richard Dreyfuss are certain, and which remain unclear?

What is the broader context of Richard Dreyfuss’s career?

Dreyfuss emerged as a leading man during the New Hollywood movement, a period characterized by character-driven stories and a shift from studio system control. His performance in Jaws helped define the summer blockbuster as a concept. He is known for his intense, sometimes neurotic characters. In recent years, he has focused on political activism through The Dreyfuss Initiative, promoting civics education. His legacy includes both iconic film roles and a commitment to public discourse.

For a comparative look at another actor of the era, you can read about Orson Welles or John Ratzenberger.

What are the key sources and quotes about Richard Dreyfuss?

“I’m a very lucky guy. I’ve been able to do what I love for a living.” – Richard Dreyfuss

“The greatest thing about acting is that you can live many lives.” – Richard Dreyfuss

Key sources for this information include Wikipedia, IMDb, Britannica, and the Walk of Fame profile. The Academy Awards Database confirms his Oscar win.

What is the summary of Richard Dreyfuss’s life and career?

Richard Dreyfuss is an American actor who became a defining star of the 1970s through iconic roles in Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Goodbye Girl. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29 and has remained active in film, television, and civic advocacy for over five decades.

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